Velyki Sorochyntsi, village in Myrhorod Raion, Poltava Oblast, Ukraine
Velyki Sorochyntsi is a village on the Psel River in the Poltava region, part of Myrhorod Raion. It houses the Transfiguration Church built in 1732 with its distinctive Ukrainian Baroque architecture, a museum dedicated to writer Nikolai Gogol, a local lore museum, and several other historic sites.
The village was first mentioned in the 1620s and was originally called Krasnopil before taking its current name. In the 18th century it became the home of Hetman Danylo Apostol, whose family remains buried in the Transfiguration Church.
The village name connects to various local legends, some linking it to the word for magpie, a bird common in the area. Craft traditions remain alive here, particularly in embroidered textiles and pottery that visitors see displayed at local festivals and the annual fair.
The village is accessible by road with bus connections from nearby towns. Most attractions are easily walkable, with the annual fair held in August while the church remains open for exploration year-round.
The famous writer Nikolai Gogol was baptized here in 1809 and later wrote a story called 'The Fair at Sorochyntsi' that immortalized the village. The annual fair, held since the 19th century, was once the largest in the country and still draws craftspeople and visitors from across Ukraine.
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